LAMZIEKTE IX CATTLE 185 



inoculating with a very minute quantity of the toxin. If 

 a larger dose is given the animal may die within one or 

 two days, showing the acute form of the disease including 

 paralysis of the tongue and throat. A case has been re- 

 corded where two animals contracted the disease on the 

 same day, one on the veld and one by artificial injection, 

 these showed identical symptoms and died at the same 

 time. 



Although Lamziekte is essentially a cattle disease, other 

 animals may become affected; it is known to affect goats 

 and ostriches. Eorses, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs 

 develop it after injection of the toxin.. Dogs, pigs and 

 rats, animals which in their natural state live on carrion 

 are practically immune. 



From the experimental evidence adduced the follow- 

 ing statement may be made with regard to the etiology 

 of Lamziekte: — Cattle cat hones or carcasses tchich in 

 parts of the country are infected with certain bacteria; 

 these bacteria produce a toxin tchich in turn causes Lam- 

 ziekte. 



Cattle are herbivorous animals, and yet in this country 

 it is not an uncommon sight to see them chewing bones 

 for hours on end. The question naturally arises: why do 

 cattle eat rotten bones and carcasses? To what cause may 

 this abnormal craving be attributed? It was found 

 necessary for further investigation to measure the degree 

 of craving for bones, and a large herd of cattle was tested 

 regularly each week on the experimental farm. 

 Armoedsvlakte to see whether tliey had developed bone 

 craving or not. They were brought to troughs in which 

 rotten bones had been placed; these were previously 

 .sterilised by boiling for one hour on three consecutive 

 days. If this had not been done such animals as had the 

 craving for bones would undoubtedly have contracted 

 Lamziekte. Every week a number of animals noted to 

 have eaten bones were recorded and the percentage 

 marked on a chart. In this waA' a curve was con- 



